Modo Mio Cucina Rustica (Sherman Oaks, CA)
I'm just starting off by saying that it's VERY rare that I truly enjoy an Italian restaurant. In the last fifteen to twenty visits to different Italian restaurants, I've left feeling unsatisfied, 'meh,' or angry, haha! Yes, I'm serious--a meal to somebody who practices intermittent fasting is serious business!
Anyhow...
First things first... the bread they bring soon after you're seated... WHO DOESN'T LOVE SOFT BREAD??? It may not have been the best bread, but since it was soft (rather than very crusty hard type of bread), I was ALL OVER IT!! I think they could've added some more flavoring to the bread--maybe some thyme or garlic. The hubs and I devoured that pretty quickly with the usual oil and vinegar one finds at an Italian eatery. What's cool was the container that holds the oil and vinegar.
What we ordered:
APPETIZER
Scarmoza Affumicata Al Pomodoro... yes, yes, yes!!! JUST ORDER IT!!! If you must be given a description, it's melted scarmoza cheese in a pool of marinara sauce and oregano. I've never had anything like it before. Usually, a plate of melted cheese doesn't call my name (obviously the hubs ordered this); but since it was already at our table, Imma try it! WOW, oh, WOW!!! Can't believe I've never had anything like it before!! I've been friggin' missin' out in my eating life, haha! It was a perfect combination of cheese and sauce! The marinara wasn't too tart/tangy (as I find w/ most Italian eateries) and hubs said there wasn't a layer of oil as he has experienced in other places before. So, yeah, that's a winner!
ENTREES
Penne Al Salmone--the hubs ordered this. As you might have guessed by the name, it's a penne pasta w/ salmon, vodka, and fresh tomatoes. Similar to the app, the sauce on this was spot on--not fishy and not tangy. Surprisingly, there was large chunks of salmon and they were not skimpy on the salmon portion--that's original! :D
Spaghetti Al Cartoccio--I was definitely feelin' for some seafood that day. I'm not usually one to order spaghetti, not my number one choice for pasta; but my taste for seafood decided this meal :P The dish had shrimp, mussels, clams, and calamari in a light tomato sauce. So... AGAIN, the sauce was ON POINT--no strong tangy-ness but was savory (my preferred taste). Oh, and the noodles, YES!!!! That must be how the perfectly cooked pasta texture be like; and if it's not, then it's MY kind of perfect from now on! Even though my dish had the sea in it, there was no overpowering smell or taste of the sea--thank you, Chef! :D Even the friggin' seafood were cooked to the perfect texture!! How??? What??? Haha!
DESSERT (all homemade!)
Tiramisu--I don't think anybody can go to an Italian restaurant w/o tasting this, it would be like committing a crime, haha! The hubs ordered this cause I'm not a fan of this dessert in general (unless it's in a cheesecake form, hehe). Hubs said it was good, more moist than what he prefers but the taste is good. The presentation to be was simple but nice--good size dessert w/ a drizzle of chocolate.
Lemon Cheesecake w/ Strawberry Puree--if you couldn't tell, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, cheesecake! There was a time in my life that I had it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner--the good ole' days, haha! Anyhow... this dish was not like a traditional cheesecake--not as dense and heavy as one would expect (menu did say it's a lighter version). Perfect balance of cheesecake and lemon--it's not as enjoyable when there's a butt-load of lemon flavor taking over my taste buds! Came w/ a big swirl of whipped cream on the side--pretty but I'm not a whipped cream kind of gal; so, that was the only thing left on the dish when the server cleared our table, teehee...
AMBIANCE
Romantic, trendy casual, quiet--so, you can take a date here ;P They have outside seating, too.
SERVICE
Kyle was our server--picture the main character from the show, 'Arrow,' and that was Kyle, haha! Very attentive, professional, efficient, friendly--can this get any better? Not really. So, we were in good hands :D Thanks, Kyle!
This location has only been open since the end of 2017 but they do have a first location in LA, on the other side of the hill. Got an opportunity to meet George, the owner--friendly, welcoming, and courteous!
If you're in the area, or if you're not, definitely dine at this place for some friggin' YUMMY Italian food!!! You will not be disappointed! Well, unless you like the generic, mediocre, and prevalent type of tomato sauces--then you might not like this place, haha!
Anyhow...
First things first... the bread they bring soon after you're seated... WHO DOESN'T LOVE SOFT BREAD??? It may not have been the best bread, but since it was soft (rather than very crusty hard type of bread), I was ALL OVER IT!! I think they could've added some more flavoring to the bread--maybe some thyme or garlic. The hubs and I devoured that pretty quickly with the usual oil and vinegar one finds at an Italian eatery. What's cool was the container that holds the oil and vinegar.
What we ordered:
APPETIZER
Scarmoza Affumicata Al Pomodoro... yes, yes, yes!!! JUST ORDER IT!!! If you must be given a description, it's melted scarmoza cheese in a pool of marinara sauce and oregano. I've never had anything like it before. Usually, a plate of melted cheese doesn't call my name (obviously the hubs ordered this); but since it was already at our table, Imma try it! WOW, oh, WOW!!! Can't believe I've never had anything like it before!! I've been friggin' missin' out in my eating life, haha! It was a perfect combination of cheese and sauce! The marinara wasn't too tart/tangy (as I find w/ most Italian eateries) and hubs said there wasn't a layer of oil as he has experienced in other places before. So, yeah, that's a winner!
ENTREES
Penne Al Salmone--the hubs ordered this. As you might have guessed by the name, it's a penne pasta w/ salmon, vodka, and fresh tomatoes. Similar to the app, the sauce on this was spot on--not fishy and not tangy. Surprisingly, there was large chunks of salmon and they were not skimpy on the salmon portion--that's original! :D
Spaghetti Al Cartoccio--I was definitely feelin' for some seafood that day. I'm not usually one to order spaghetti, not my number one choice for pasta; but my taste for seafood decided this meal :P The dish had shrimp, mussels, clams, and calamari in a light tomato sauce. So... AGAIN, the sauce was ON POINT--no strong tangy-ness but was savory (my preferred taste). Oh, and the noodles, YES!!!! That must be how the perfectly cooked pasta texture be like; and if it's not, then it's MY kind of perfect from now on! Even though my dish had the sea in it, there was no overpowering smell or taste of the sea--thank you, Chef! :D Even the friggin' seafood were cooked to the perfect texture!! How??? What??? Haha!
DESSERT (all homemade!)
Tiramisu--I don't think anybody can go to an Italian restaurant w/o tasting this, it would be like committing a crime, haha! The hubs ordered this cause I'm not a fan of this dessert in general (unless it's in a cheesecake form, hehe). Hubs said it was good, more moist than what he prefers but the taste is good. The presentation to be was simple but nice--good size dessert w/ a drizzle of chocolate.
Lemon Cheesecake w/ Strawberry Puree--if you couldn't tell, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, cheesecake! There was a time in my life that I had it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner--the good ole' days, haha! Anyhow... this dish was not like a traditional cheesecake--not as dense and heavy as one would expect (menu did say it's a lighter version). Perfect balance of cheesecake and lemon--it's not as enjoyable when there's a butt-load of lemon flavor taking over my taste buds! Came w/ a big swirl of whipped cream on the side--pretty but I'm not a whipped cream kind of gal; so, that was the only thing left on the dish when the server cleared our table, teehee...
AMBIANCE
Romantic, trendy casual, quiet--so, you can take a date here ;P They have outside seating, too.
SERVICE
Kyle was our server--picture the main character from the show, 'Arrow,' and that was Kyle, haha! Very attentive, professional, efficient, friendly--can this get any better? Not really. So, we were in good hands :D Thanks, Kyle!
This location has only been open since the end of 2017 but they do have a first location in LA, on the other side of the hill. Got an opportunity to meet George, the owner--friendly, welcoming, and courteous!
If you're in the area, or if you're not, definitely dine at this place for some friggin' YUMMY Italian food!!! You will not be disappointed! Well, unless you like the generic, mediocre, and prevalent type of tomato sauces--then you might not like this place, haha!
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